screwed up

^99runner^ · 10-29-2009, 07:09 PM

while replacing the rear window bulb that went out in my dash, i somehow managed to connect the rear window defrost bulb to the resistor (think thats what it is).

now my problem is that when i turn my headlights on, the rear window defrost light turns off and when my headlights are off, the rear window defrost light is on.. the rear defrost still works i just want to fix what i broke. i have already tried repacing the circuit board that the rear window defrost bulb is connected to but that didnt work. i have a 99 limited 4runner.. i know some but not much about electrial, so any help would be grateful

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Ron Helmuth · 10-29-2009, 07:36 PM

Two guesses: On the back of the radio bezel there are actually two places a wiring connector can attach. You got the wrong one.Swap that connection over.Behind the Ect button if I remember right on a Limited woodgrain bezel. It fits both-not sure why.

Second guess-did you get the same exact bulb for the switch? or maybe you are referring to the backlight behind the rear defrost switch ? the one that illuminates where the switch is -even when not on but the lights are on.

I am thinking you got the longer bulb with the green condom on it in a place where the shorter bulb with a green condom should be. The resistance maybe would be different.

^99runner^ · 10-30-2009, 09:28 AM

first: i know for certain i connected the wires back to the correct plugs

second: the bulb for the rear window defrost is built into the circuit board so it cannot be changed. the bulbs for the replacements work fine

i connected the rear defrost bulb, that is connected to the circuit board, to its resistor while it was still plugged in and the power on.. don't know how but it happened

Ron Helmuth · 10-30-2009, 11:53 AM

Not sure what you are meaning about connecting to a resistor... but I would venture a guess that you will have to pull the radio bezel again.

You say that you could not change out the rear defrost bulb but in same sentence say the replacement bulbs work fine, again not sure what you are referring to exactly.

Verify the connection is not to the white jack. That is the wrong one. I have shots of the back of the bezel if you want to compare.

^99runner^ · 10-31-2009, 07:11 AM

yeah i will try to take pics today. i was goin to do the tacoma whip mod anyways

Ron Helmuth · 10-31-2009, 07:36 AM

I am in middle of that one right now also. Would prefer not to go new and I refuse to pay $22 for the whip itself. I can find those at the junkyard but not sure of which years of Tacoma antenna mount matches the fender of the Runner-some look too flat. I may have only a few more days on my power one it is making some sickening noises every time it labors to go up and down.

We'll get this figured out.

I always have my 17 yr old son watching and learning-he is more intuitive at this kind of thing than I ever was.

you have help to keep it straight ?

also it occurs to me your back panel may be different from mine as I am an SR5 just converted over to a Limited woodgrain radio bezel.

Since I have no ECT feature I swapped in the SR5 switch panel it just pops in and out. So I guess it is completely possible my wiring setup is slightly different. You may have that digital temperature control(?) and I am old school style on the air knobs and so on.

Send me an email address if you like and I can shoot over back of the bezel shots or we can talk Private Message.

You left the connector connected and the truck was on while you were changing out a bulb? couldn't have... right? at worst a bulb or fuse would have blown. Check the affected fuse circuit but it obviously works. Perhaps replace that fuse anyways just for grins.

^99runner^ · 11-03-2009, 08:58 AM

here are some pics to help better understand what i did:

on the far left, the middle yellow thing is the bulb that is built in. the resistor is directly above it. i was saying the other lights that i changed worked fine. me being dumb was testing an old light to make sure the bulb was the problem. so i left the power on and touched the wires to the built in bulb to test it; when i did so i accidently touch it to the resistor also. screwed up, i know

Ron Helmuth · 11-04-2009, 11:34 AM

mine is nothing like this at all. Very sorry.

^99runner^ · 11-04-2009, 11:46 AM

hey its not a problem. i didnt have high hopes to fix it ha. its not gonna kill me to not fix it i was jus wondering if anyone could help. thanks though ron

10-29-2009, 07:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ron Helmuth Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Denver metro area-CO Posts: 1,339	Two guesses: On the back of the radio bezel there are actually two places a wiring connector can attach. You got the wrong one.Swap that connection over.Behind the Ect button if I remember right on a Limited woodgrain bezel. It fits both-not sure why. Second guess-did you get the same exact bulb for the switch? or maybe you are referring to the backlight behind the rear defrost switch ? the one that illuminates where the switch is -even when not on but the lights are on. I am thinking you got the longer bulb with the green condom on it in a place where the shorter bulb with a green condom should be. The resistance maybe would be different. __________________ 99 4Runner SR5 4wd 3.4/5 spd- Fact. Rr. Locker/Diff Breather Ext. Old Man Emu lift springs- 881 fronts/890 rears O/M/E shocks- N91s fr./N86 rr. All Pro Off Road welded sliders-prevent body damage! ARB"Taco"bumper/Gamiviti clear lenses/Hella 500s Redline Tuning hood struts/Bushwacker Extend a Fenders all my photos are over on Facebook now-I gave up on photo hosting sorry.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...5&l=5795132731

10-30-2009, 09:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
^99runner^ Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: mississippi Posts: 70	first: i know for certain i connected the wires back to the correct plugs second: the bulb for the rear window defrost is built into the circuit board so it cannot be changed. the bulbs for the replacements work fine i connected the rear defrost bulb, that is connected to the circuit board, to its resistor while it was still plugged in and the power on.. don't know how but it happened __________________ 1999 Limited 4Runner 4x4 factory rear locker, 882/891 OME coils, N91SC/N86C OME shocks, whip antenna mod, red/blue wire mod, bull bar, clear corners, 2 12" kicker cvr sold: 98 GS 300 - stock sold: 97 Tacoma 4x4 5spd - 3" susp. lift, 3" body lift, 305/70 dueler A/T, clear corners and turns, smoke tail lights

10-31-2009, 07:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
^99runner^ Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: mississippi Posts: 70	yeah i will try to take pics today. i was goin to do the tacoma whip mod anyways __________________ 1999 Limited 4Runner 4x4 factory rear locker, 882/891 OME coils, N91SC/N86C OME shocks, whip antenna mod, red/blue wire mod, bull bar, clear corners, 2 12" kicker cvr sold: 98 GS 300 - stock sold: 97 Tacoma 4x4 5spd - 3" susp. lift, 3" body lift, 305/70 dueler A/T, clear corners and turns, smoke tail lights

11-03-2009, 08:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
^99runner^ Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: mississippi Posts: 70	here are some pics to help better understand what i did: on the far left, the middle yellow thing is the bulb that is built in. the resistor is directly above it. i was saying the other lights that i changed worked fine. me being dumb was testing an old light to make sure the bulb was the problem. so i left the power on and touched the wires to the built in bulb to test it; when i did so i accidently touch it to the resistor also. screwed up, i know __________________ 1999 Limited 4Runner 4x4 factory rear locker, 882/891 OME coils, N91SC/N86C OME shocks, whip antenna mod, red/blue wire mod, bull bar, clear corners, 2 12" kicker cvr sold: 98 GS 300 - stock sold: 97 Tacoma 4x4 5spd - 3" susp. lift, 3" body lift, 305/70 dueler A/T, clear corners and turns, smoke tail lights

11-04-2009, 11:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
^99runner^ Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: mississippi Posts: 70	hey its not a problem. i didnt have high hopes to fix it ha. its not gonna kill me to not fix it i was jus wondering if anyone could help. thanks though ron __________________ 1999 Limited 4Runner 4x4 factory rear locker, 882/891 OME coils, N91SC/N86C OME shocks, whip antenna mod, red/blue wire mod, bull bar, clear corners, 2 12" kicker cvr sold: 98 GS 300 - stock sold: 97 Tacoma 4x4 5spd - 3" susp. lift, 3" body lift, 305/70 dueler A/T, clear corners and turns, smoke tail lights

10-30-2009, 11:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ron Helmuth Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Denver metro area-CO Posts: 1,339	Not sure what you are meaning about connecting to a resistor... but I would venture a guess that you will have to pull the radio bezel again. You say that you could not change out the rear defrost bulb but in same sentence say the replacement bulbs work fine, again not sure what you are referring to exactly. Verify the connection is not to the white jack. That is the wrong one. I have shots of the back of the bezel if you want to compare.

10-31-2009, 07:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ron Helmuth Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Denver metro area-CO Posts: 1,339	I am in middle of that one right now also. Would prefer not to go new and I refuse to pay $22 for the whip itself. I can find those at the junkyard but not sure of which years of Tacoma antenna mount matches the fender of the Runner-some look too flat. I may have only a few more days on my power one it is making some sickening noises every time it labors to go up and down. We'll get this figured out. I always have my 17 yr old son watching and learning-he is more intuitive at this kind of thing than I ever was. you have help to keep it straight ? also it occurs to me your back panel may be different from mine as I am an SR5 just converted over to a Limited woodgrain radio bezel. Since I have no ECT feature I swapped in the SR5 switch panel it just pops in and out. So I guess it is completely possible my wiring setup is slightly different. You may have that digital temperature control(?) and I am old school style on the air knobs and so on. Send me an email address if you like and I can shoot over back of the bezel shots or we can talk Private Message. You left the connector connected and the truck was on while you were changing out a bulb? couldn't have... right? at worst a bulb or fuse would have blown. Check the affected fuse circuit but it obviously works. Perhaps replace that fuse anyways just for grins.

11-04-2009, 11:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ron Helmuth Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Denver metro area-CO Posts: 1,339	mine is nothing like this at all. Very sorry.

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